Michellee Carrizales (left), then 23, and Jon Doss, then 21, sit on a car in July 2002 and greet passers-by on The Loop.

Written by

Robert Morast

Former Argus Leader reporter

Editor’s Note: This column, written by former features reporter Robert Morast, was first published in the July 28, 2002, Sunday Life section.

Make no mistake about it, Sioux Falls is a safe city.

Tthere isn’t a single sidewalk I’m scared to walk on at 2 a.m. The specter of muggings and stabbings just doesn’t seem to exist here. In fact, my only fear during late-night hikes is that someone’s lawn sprinklers will activate as I pass by them.

But amid our squeaky-clean neighborhoods and blissfully peaceful lives, there is unmentionable action going on once night overtakes day.

The city’s nightly scourge is The Loop, the not-quite-circular stretch that runs a circuit from downtown to the point where 11th and 12th streets converge. Any experienced local knows that every night of the weekend, and often during the week, automobilized youths searching for fun, the opposite sex and a chance to be seen sans parents flood the Loop.

Ssince I moved here nearly two years ago I’ve repeatedly heard rumors of Loop-based gangs, lecherous acts and overall delinquency by those known as “loopers.” However, all of my Loop observations were of scenes filled with apparently harmless teen-agers.

Still, adults seem to despise it. Wondering why, I decided to spend a night out there. During my case study of The Loop on July 5, I didn’t see anything deplorable or devious. Police reports confirmed the night was light, with only a slew of fireworks violations and minor traffic accidentsd.

That’s not to say The Loop’s reputation isn’t warranted. Loren McManus, public information officer for the Sioux Falls Police department, says grievous acts have happened on the Loop in past years. He says the start of the 11 p.m. curfew for youths under 18 and an ordinance permitting police to break up crowds in The Loop area have helped ease the situation.

“The Loop is always going to be there and have its mystique,” McManus says. “By and large the people down there are well behaved.”

Along with (former Argus Leader) photographer Christopher Gannon, I — armed only with pen, paper and a bottle of water — experienced The Loop’s mystique firsthand. What we saw was definitely interesting.

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8:21 p.m. I’m leaving my house to meet Gannon at the Argus Leader. Right before I step out I ask my girlfriend and her friend what they think of The Loop. The friend says she once saw a stabbing on The Loop. That’s not what I want to hear right now.

8:57 We walk downtown from the Argus Leader building. It’s still mostly sunny and very quiet at 10th and Phillips. I guess we’re unfashionably early. A lot of older adults still are walking around. Perhaps they’re walking away from the imminent influx of youngsters, or maybe they’re just being ironic. Glancing around. I see it’s not all oldies. A quartet of loud teens park and quickly runs down the sidewalk. Further down the street, some early birds claim a bench while a couple of passing vehicles pound out random bass sounds. Maybe we’re not as early as I first thought.

9:04 A thermometer reads 85 degrees. It’s still quite humid. With little action in sight, we retreat back to the Argus and decide to participate in the still-forming Loop traffic via vehicle. Gannon seems slightly disappointed at the current lack of prospects. I am, too.

9:15 We’re cruising The Loop. It’s my first time purposely doing it. Gannon drives like a Loop veteran. So far, I’m unimpressed. The traffic is light, there are no gun shots and the lewd and naked characters I envisioned still haven’t presented themselves. This must be a lame night. It took us approximately five minutes for our first loop, but we weren’t pushing it. We’re looking for anything. I feel like a bounty hunter searching for, uh, bounty. I’m Boba Fett without the cool outfit and blaster rifle. Actually, he’d be on a much more interesting mission. If something doesn’t happen soon I’m declaring The Loop lame.

9:17 The Sioux Falls Police bike patrol is out. They don’t look too threatening. You ever see the Charlie Sheen movie “Men at Work?” That film about garbagemen who inadvertently investigate a murder features some ineffective bike cops. I’m thinking about them right now, and I smile. Still, however dorky the two bike cops look in their short shorts and bike helmets, I’m sure they could kick my ass with ease. We stop on 10th Street across the street from the Arrow Bar for some real bikers. A four-pack of BMX street-style bikers are riding in a parking lot. They’ve done more tricks in the last minute than I have in 26 years. Back on the street, growling cars and others with outgoing stereo systems are emerging. The Loop is alive. An old station wagon just drove by, and a young man yelled at the bikers. More cars issue cat calls. These guys are popular. I’m only popular with insects. A swarm of gnats is circling around my head annoyingly. Am I their Loop?

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9:30 In talking with the bikers, we learn that they call this parking space “Loser’s Lot.” It used to be where tons of people hung out. Now it’s for the bikers. Are they admitting to being losers? Noah “Tuff Guy” Osterman admits that sometimes The Loop is stupid. “People try showing off their cars, and they don’t have anything,” he says. “(The drivers) are like, ‘Get a car.’ I go, ‘Get a bike, it’s better.’ ”

9:37 Hoping these guys are good, I ask them if they could jump over me with their bikes. I lay down and am jumped over width-wise. Afterward I am unscathed and feel good. Now an unknown dude with a prosthetic hook arm comes over and asks if they can jump over two people. I smile politely before finding myself on the ground extremely close to some guy I don’t know.

9:39 We have just been jumped over. Again, there’s no harm. I’m now a veteran at this. Bonded by the event, I sit and talk with my fellow stuntman named Charlie. In my head I affectionately refer to him as “Charlie One Arm.” We sit and discuss the usual topics: women, personal history and whether we smell like alcohol. Charlie isn’t a Loop regular. He says he’s from Rapid City and in town visiting his girlfriend. Charlie invites me to walk around The Loop with him. On any other night I probably would have, but tonight I’m a one-man guy. I’m not about to cheat on my photographer.

9:48 The bike cops approach the BMXers. I’m surprised to see all the peddlers are just pleasantly talking. The bike cops inform the BMXers that they shouldn’t be in the lot, due to liability reasons, but the warning is friendly.

9:55 We return to the vehicle for another run at The Loop. We’re soon stopped at the red light at Minnesota and 10th behind a mauve Ford Escort that has “Proud 2 Be Lesbians” painted on the rear-view window. I’m certain the message is meant to be nothing more than shocking. No actual lesbian I’ve ever known would do something like that.

10:16 We’re back on foot. Apparently we don’t have The Loop stamina of the regulars. Walking on 10th Street again, we come across a trio of people sitting on the trunk of a car. Naturally, we ask them what they think of the Loop. “It sucks,” says Jon Doss of Sioux Falls. “You’ll find a bunch of people up to no good. “Especially that corner,” he says, pointing to intersection of 10th and Phillips. “If you want to find trouble, it’s at that corner.” Doss is telling me about the territorial nature of the corner dwellers, but I’m not really listening. A girl standing mere inches from me is suddenly having a loud argument with a guy. It appears she’s informing him that his Honda isn’t that cool of a car. The average-looking guy is getting a few retorts in, but the lady is just dominating the argument with a loud and oppressive voice. This is the closest I’ve been to a fight in months.

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10:27 Testing Doss’ theory, I’m positioned across the street from the bustling corner of 10th and Phillips. There are probably 35 kids standing here talking, smoking, playing hacky sack and “putting the vibe out.” This is obviously a mating site. I’m dubbing it the “hot corner.” Three teen-age girls dressed like they’re about to go clubbing pull up on bicycles. I wonder how many miles they trekked in full make-up. Amazingly, it’s not ruined by sweat.

10:40 We’re now on the top level of the parking ramp across the street from the Ming Wah restaurant. Everything looks better from a rooftop view. From three stories high, the streaming cars have a smooth and bright beauty, and the clans of loitering youths look like packs of friendly chums. A car alarm briefly goes off below the ramp, but it doesn’t disturb my peace. A cool breeze wraps around me and I feel like I’m in heaven, or at least closer to it than I was on the sidewalk. After a while, the assorted growls, squeaks, hums and bass bumps of the Looping vehicles start to sound like an odd concert. Automotive free jazz, if you will. The voices of congregated loopers add some chatter to the downtown symphony. The rhythm is consistently tied to the street lights. It builds for green and dies down at red.

10:50 A group of cars drive by all exchanging “hi” with each other. Is this the new mating ritual? Gone are the nervous knees at youth dances. The kids now approach the opposite sex in a sleek, comfortable suit of armor. It’s a definite improvement over the tired and always shaky “Do you wanna dance?” There are other advantages. Sitting in a car can hide certain undesirable physical features that may detract from a nice smile. Face it, who doesn’t look, at least a little, good in a shiny sports car?

10:56 An older guy with gray hair pulls up to the stoplight at 10th and Main on a motorcycle. He looks intimidated by the surrounding kids.

11:02 I hear Eminem coming from the speakers of someone’s car. I’m surprised it took this long to hear some music from the ultra-hot rapper. I imagined every third vehicle would be blaring Eminem’s sounds.

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11:05 The coolest vehicle of the night just drove by. It’s an older and slightly beat-up Ford Ranger pickup with rising smoke stacks behind the cab and no hood over the engine. It has enough quirky redneck appeal to hang with the trendy Honda and Acura sports vehicles. It feels like what Kid Rock would drive if he ever showed up on The Loop. I’m thinking, “What would other rock stars drive on the Loop?” David Lee Roth: a yellow ‘80s Corvette. Sammy Hagar: BMW convertible. Marilyn Manson: Hearse. Shakira: Miata, a red one. Dr. Dre: vintage El Camino with hydraulics Cher: a pink Volkswagen Bug, new style. Britney Spears: a limo so she can stand up and dance through the moon roof. Fred Durst: the trendiest sports car with a large fin on back. Johnny Rotten: an MG and a scowl on his face.

11:14 Parting ways with Gannon, I just walked down the parking ramp stairwell in 29 seconds. Aside from wondering if it’s a Sioux Falls record, I notice that this is the first parking ramp stairwell that hasn’t caused me to gag from the smell of stale urine. This should be documented by Ripley’s Believe it or Not.

11:25 It’s still hot out. Sitting at an outside table at 11th and Phillips, I realize I’m the only person around. It’s amazing how by straying one block east or west of 11th Street, the action is lost.

11:36 Switching sides, I occupy a table at 10th and Phillips. The hot corner is in my view. While walking, I realized how easy it is to feel like a second-class citizen if you’re not driving a car on The Loop. I’m like a serf. I swear I just heard some guys — with a parked car — talk crap about me. Without a vehicle, I’m a whipping boy. I’m the Denver Nuggets of The Loop.

11:39 I just heard a car drive by playing Lady of Rage’s “Afro Puffs.” I haven’t heard that song in years. I also haven’t heard any rock ‘n’ roll tonight, just hip-hop and pop. These are songs you’ll never hear emanating from the cars rounding The Loop: “59 Times the Pain,” Hüsker Dü. “Cosmonaut,” At the Drive-In “Brainwashed,” Nuclear Assault. “New Noise,” Refused. Anything by Miles Davis. “Flower Glower,” Deadsy. “I Wanna be a Cowboy,” Boys Don’t Cry.

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11:43 More insults are freely hurled from one passing car to another. Loopers don’t care what they say to whomever. Inside their mobile suits of armor the loopers are invincible. And if danger does present itself, they can easily speed away from trouble. On The Loop, the meek become aggressive and bold. However embattled and ill-perceived The Loop is by adults, participation in this nightly ritual may be the best thing for developing self-confidence since sports or sex.

11:46 A group of bar-aged people just walked by. It’s the first such group I’ve seen since sitting here. I’m not too surprised. Why would an adult subject themselves to the verbal spars of the hot corner? On the Loop there is little authority or respect. It’s like Thunderdome without an outright champion like Mad Max. That appears to be the major attraction of The Loop, anyone can have perceived power. Everyone here is Mad Max.

11:49 The hot corner is cooling off. But even with the declining numbers, I still feel like the lone male wolf viewing the pack from afar. There’s obvious tension from other males trying to maintain ownership of the Loop territory.

11:52 My ears are suddenly hot. Does that mean someone somewhere is talking bad about me? My grandma would probably say that. I’m blaming the loud mufflers for my ear heat. No one has approached me since “Charlie One Arm.” I guess I’m unapproachable. How did I ever get a girlfriend?

11:55 At midnight, my one-night study of The Loop will end. I’m visually scouring for any last-minute action and thinking ahead to the air-conditioned comfort of my rented house.

11:59 T-minus one minute and counting. I’m slightly sad to leave. Even as a walker, The Loop becomes part of you. The spontaneous bursts of excitement are enriching and almost euphoric. The Loop is the cheapest and lowest-grade drug in Sioux Falls.

12:09 a.m. I’m sitting in my 1989 Nissan 240SX and have decided to take one more lap around The Loop.

12:12 I’ve run into a red light at Minnesota and 11th. The car next to me is pumping a 2 Live Crew song from the classic and infamous “As Nasty as They Wanna Be” album. With the music and the reality of me driving on The Loop, I’m taken over by memories of my high school years. It doesn’t last long. A quick look in my rear-view mirror reveals I had more hair in high school.

12:17 Now in my driveway at home, I’m as safe as I was on The Loop. The only danger I felt was ridicule about my uncool car. Will I miss The Loop tomorrow night? Yes. Will I return for a sequel? Probably not. No matter what pleasure was derived from my night on The Loop, the practice of hanging there carries a negative cachet that lowers you to the form of street scum, at least for those out of high school. Here in my driveway, I feel cleansed. In retrospect The Loop doesn’t seem too bad. Sure, it has a bad rap, and it always feels one disparaging comment away from a fight, but it’s obviously a rite of passage for many local youths. The Loop completes the jumps from puberty to adolescence and from adolescence to adulthood by incorporating mimed grown-up actions that engrain an “adult” mindset on kids. Of course, this isn’t the only upbringing a teenager needs, but it’s the kind of independent rearing even the most skilled parents can’t provide.